CSEA/PEF response to Paterson’s layoff announcement

Gov. Paterson shook the layoff saber this morning and one of the unions he has a no-layoff agreement with, CSEA and PEF, were fairly quick with their responses.

Here’s what CSEA President Danny Donohue has to say:

“Here is the fact: CSEA has a signed agreement with the Paterson Administration prohibiting layoffs for the duration of his administration — it’s binding and we will hold him to it.”

And PEF President Ken Brynien:

It is irresponsible for the governor to insist on punishing state employees, their families and state taxpayers by moving forward with a plan for layoffs.

By doing so, David Paterson is attempting to saddle the incoming governor with the burden of trying to determine which state services taxpayers would have to do without.

State agencies are already down to bare bones when it comes to staffing levels, as evidenced by the inability of agency commissioners to identify enough positions for the early retirement incentive (ERI) to meet the governor’s goal of saving $250 million dollars. The message to the governor is quite clear; agencies simply can’t afford to lose more staff.

The need for services still remains and is growing in this down economy, without the state employees to provide the services it is likely the state will rely on costly consultants and contractors. The governor’s plan also will result in more state spending as overtime costs increase due to the lack of adequate staffing. Add to that the ripple effect due to the loss of thousands of jobs no longer supported by the state workforce and it makes the state’s financial crisis even worse.

The governor’s plan is bad for the state, bad for taxpayers and bad for the dedicated state employees who are continually expected to do more with less.